It was a bright Saturday afternoon in Storybrooke, the kind of day that made everything seem possible. Regina Mills stood outside Granny's Diner, her heart racing slightly as she waited for Emma Swan and their son, Henry, to arrive. She had spent the morning contemplating how to approach this new chapter in their lives—co-parenting. After the tumultuous history they shared, it was time to put their differences aside for Henry's sake.
As the bell above the diner door jingled, Regina turned to see Emma walking in with Henry, who was animatedly talking about something that had happened at school. Emma's hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she wore a casual smile that made Regina's heart flutter unexpectedly.
"Hey, Regina!" Emma called out, waving as they approached. Henry bounded ahead, his excitement palpable.
"Hi, sweetheart," Regina replied, bending down to hug Henry. "I missed you!"
Henry grinned up at her. "I missed you too! Are we going to have the best lunch ever?"
"You bet we are," Regina said, standing back up and glancing at Emma. "Shall we?"
As they settled into a booth, the atmosphere was light, filled with the smell of fresh coffee and the sound of clinking dishes. Henry immediately grabbed a menu, his eyes wide with options.
"Can I get the biggest burger they have?" he asked, bouncing in his seat.
Emma chuckled. "I think you can manage that. What about you, Regina?"
"I'll have a salad," Regina said, glancing at Emma. "And some fries to share with Henry."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Fries? I thought you were on a health kick."
Regina smirked. "Even the Evil Queen deserves a treat now and then."
Henry giggled, clearly enjoying the banter between his moms. "You two are funny! I love this."
Once their orders were placed, a comfortable silence fell over the table. Regina took a deep breath, preparing to address the elephant in the room.
"Emma, I've been thinking," she started, her voice steady. "About us co-parenting Henry. I want to make this work."
Emma looked at her, surprise flickering in her eyes. "Really? You mean it?"
"Of course. I want what's best for him," Regina replied, her gaze earnest. "And I think we can do this together."
Emma nodded slowly, a smile breaking across her face. "I agree. Henry deserves to see us happy, even if we have our... history."
Henry, oblivious to the underlying tension, chimed in, "Does this mean we can have more family dinners?"
"Absolutely," Regina said, her heart warming at the thought. "We can make this a regular thing."
As their food arrived, the conversation flowed easily. They laughed, shared stories, and even teased each other about their past adventures. Henry was in his element, delighting in the attention from both his moms.
After lunch, as they walked out of the diner, Henry spotted a nearby park. "Can we go play for a bit?" he asked, looking up at them with hopeful eyes.
"Sure," Emma said, glancing at Regina. "What do you think?"
Regina smiled warmly. "I think that sounds perfect."
They spent the next hour watching Henry run around, climbing on the jungle gym and swinging with abandon. As Emma and Regina sat on a bench, a comfortable silence enveloped them, punctuated only by Henry's laughter.
"You know, I never thought we’d get to this point," Emma said, breaking the quiet. "Co-parenting, I mean."
Regina turned to her, a soft smile on her lips. "Me neither. But it feels... right."
Emma's gaze lingered on Regina, and for a moment, the world around them faded. "Regina, I—"
Before she could finish, Henry dashed over, interrupting the moment. "Look at me! I’m the king of the world!" he shouted, throwing his arms out wide.
Regina and Emma exchanged a knowing glance, their hearts full as they watched their son.
Later that evening, after a long day of laughter and play, they returned to Regina's home. As they settled in the living room, Regina poured them both a glass of wine.
"Thank you for today," Regina said, handing Emma a glass. "It really meant a lot to me."
Emma took a sip, her expression thoughtful. "It was nice to see you two together. I think we’re really doing this, you know? Being a family."
Regina's heart raced at the word "family." "Yes, we are."
They shared a lingering look, the air thick with unspoken feelings. Emma set the glass down.
And leaned forward and kissed Regina passionately, leading to a make-out session, turned into day/night filled with passion & love.